Rewilding Earth Podcast

About Carl Ecologist and author Carl Safina explores how humans are changing the living world, and what those changes mean for wild places and for human and other beings. His work connects broad scientific understanding with a moral call to action. His writing has won the MacArthur “genius” prize; Pew and Guggenheim Fellowships; book awards from Lannan, Orion, and the National Academies; and the John Burroughs, James Beard, and George Rabb medals. Safina hosted the 10-part PBS series, Saving the Ocean With Carl Safina. He holds the Endowed Chair for Nature and Humanity at Stony Brook University and is founder of the not-for-profit Safina Center. He lives on Long Island, New York with his wife Patricia and their dogs and feathered friends. Carl’s most recent book is Becoming Wild; How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace. Talking Points * Animal cultures – Humans aren’t the only species with cultures * Pandemics and our relationship with the wild world * A warning about the next pandemic – we got lucky this time * Correcting our relationship with the wild world to save ourselves and biodiversity Extra Credit Reading * Becoming Wild; How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace * Beyond Words; What Animals Think and Feel Visit * SafinaCenter.org * CarlSafina.com * “Saving The Ocean” A PBS Series with Carl Safina Watch Carl on Tedx What animals are thinking and feeling, and why it should matter | Carl Safina | TEDxMidAtlantic About Carl Ecologist and author Carl Safina explores how humans are changing the living world, and what those changes mean for wild places and for human and other beings. His work connects broad scientific understanding with a moral call to action. His writing has won the MacArthur “genius” prize; Pew and Guggenheim Fellowships; book awards from Lannan, Orion, and the National Academies; and the John Burroughs, James Beard, and George Rabb medals. Safina hosted the 10-part PBS series, Saving the Ocean With Carl Safina. He holds the Endowed Chair for Nature and Humanity at Stony Brook University and is founder of the not-for-profit Safina Center. He lives on Long Island, New York with his wife Patricia and their dogs and feathered friends. Carl’s most recent book is Becoming Wild; How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace. Talking Points * Animal cultures – Humans aren’t the only species with cultures * Pandemics and our relationship with the wild world * A warning about the next pandemic – we got lucky this time * Correcting our relationship with the wild world to save ourselves and biodiversity Extra Credit Reading * Becoming Wild; How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace * Beyond Words; What Animals Think and Feel Visit * SafinaCenter.org * CarlSafina.com * “Saving The Ocean” A PBS Series wit...

About Shelby Perry is the Stewardship Director at Northeast Wilderness Trust, whose mission is to conserve forever-wild landscapes for nature and people. She received her master’s degree from the University of Vermont’s field naturalist program, and holds a bachelors in environmental engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A Vermont native, she has also lived and worked in the Adirondacks, California, the Caribbean, Wyoming, and West Africa, where she served a term in the US Peace Corps. In her free time Shelby enjoys hiking far away from trails, swimming in mountain streams, and identifying mysterious plants, fungi, and slime molds. Talking Points * What does a Rewilding-focused wildlands philanthropy organization do? * Buying and protecting key lands and allowing them to rewild largely on their own. * The meaning of protecting forests that won’t rewild to old growth in our lifetime. Extra Credit * Northeast Wilderness Trust 2019 Year in Review * NWT 5 Year Strategic Plan * Bramhall Wilderness Preserve In Progress: Habitat for Moose, Brook Trout, Mature Forest Birds, and More * Update on Bramhall Wilderness Preserve! About Shelby Perry is the Stewardship Director at Northeast Wilderness Trust, whose mission is to conserve forever-wild landscapes for nature and people. She received her master’s degree from the University of Vermont’s field naturalist program, and holds a bachelors in environmental engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A Vermont native, she has also lived and worked in the Adirondacks, California, the Caribbean, Wyoming, and West Africa, where she served a term in the US Peace Corps. In her free time Shelby enjoys hiking far away from trails, swimming in mountain streams, and identifying mysterious plants, fungi, and slime molds. Talking Points * What does a Rewilding-focused wildlands philanthropy organization do? * Buying and protecting key lands and allowing them to rewild largely on their own. * The meaning of protecting forests that won’t rewild to old growth in our lifetime. Extra Credit * Northeast Wilderness Trust 2019 Year in Review * NWT 5 Year Strategic Plan * Bramhall Wilderness Preserve In Progress: Habitat for Moose, Brook Trout, Mature Forest Birds, and More * Update on Bramhall Wilderness Preserve!

About For over 40 years Dr. John Laundré has studied predators and their prey in the western U.S. and northern Mexico. He has conducted one of the longest studies of cougar ecology and behavior to date and has published over 80 scientific articles on his scientific work. He is the originator of the concept of the landscape of fear that proposed that fear of prey for their predators drives many, if not all ecological processes. The one important aspect of this concept is that predators become instrumental in maintaining the balance between prey species and their habitat, not so much by killing their prey but affecting how they use the landscape. John’s book, Phantoms of the Prairie, The Return of Cougars to the Midwest, looks at the phenomenon of cougars actually moving back into the Great Plains region of the U.S. He is teaching at Western Oregon University and serves on the Board of the Cougar Rewilding Foundation whose goal is the eventual re-establishment of viable cougar populations in the Eastern U.S. Topics * Why state wildlife agencies are really just hunting organizations and what to do about it. * Why care what hunters think about conservation and wildlife management? * Piercing the veil of state game agencies and putting the people in charge, not the 4% of hunters currently in charge. * Following the money. Plenty of money from public coffers available, but agencies won’t use it so that they can say the hunters solely support conservation efforts. Extra Credit Reading: Dead Cats Walking by John Laundré Visit: CougarRewilding.org Great book: Phantoms of the Prairie: The Return of Cougars to the Midwest About For over 40 years Dr. John Laundré has studied predators and their prey in the western U.S. and northern Mexico. He has conducted one of the longest studies of cougar ecology and behavior to date and has published over 80 scientific articles on his scientific work. He is the originator of the concept of the landscape of fear that proposed that fear of prey for their predators drives many, if not all ecological processes. The one important aspect of this concept is that predators become instrumental in maintaining the balance between prey species and their habitat, not so much by killing their prey but affecting how they use the landscape. John’s book, Phantoms of the Prairie, The Return of Cougars to the Midwest, looks at the phenomenon of cougars actually moving back into the Great Plains region of the U.S. He is teaching at Western Oregon University and serves on the Board of the Cougar Rewilding Foundation whose goal is the eventual re-establishment of viable cougar populations in the Eastern U.S. Topics * Why state wildlife agencies are really just hunting organizations and what to do about it. * Why care what hunters think about conservation and wildlife management? * Piercing the veil of state game agencies and putting the people in charge, not the 4% of hunters currently in charge. * Following the money.

About Gary Gary Wockner, Ph.D., has been active in environmental protection most of his adult life. Over the past 15 years, Gary has spearheaded the protection and restoration of his local watershed in Fort Collins, CO, as the co-founder, Executive Director, and Waterkeeper for Cache la Poudre River. Since 2010, Gary has played an increasing role in Colorado River protection throughout the Southwest U.S. by co-founding and directing the Save The Colorado River Campaign with New Belgium Brewing and Patagonia. Gary is an award-winning environmental activist and writer — he has been named a “River Hero,” an “Eco-Rockstar Impacting the Planet,” and a “Renowned Environmental Leader” by environmental publications. Gary writes, travels, and advocates internationally for the protection of rivers, fighting climate change, and stabilizing human population. "Gary is one of Colorado's most outspoken water watchdogs." -- Colorado Independent, 2018 "Gary is an authentic environmental activist." -- Independence Institute, 2019 "Gary serves alongside Bobby Kennedy Jr. as a serial dam killer." -- Augusta MetroSpirit, 2019 Topics * Protecting rivers around the globe * River protection through Rights for Nature initiatives and legislation * Human population pressures on rivers * Decommissioning Glen Canyon Dam and others like it * One of Gary’s favorite rivers to float in the United States Extra Credit * Visit GaryWockner.com * Visit: Save The Colorado River Campaign About Gary Gary Wockner, Ph.D., has been active in environmental protection most of his adult life. Over the past 15 years, Gary has spearheaded the protection and restoration of his local watershed in Fort Collins, CO, as the co-founder, Executive Director, and Waterkeeper for Cache la Poudre River. Since 2010, Gary has played an increasing role in Colorado River protection throughout the Southwest U.S. by co-founding and directing the Save The Colorado River Campaign with New Belgium Brewing and Patagonia. Gary is an award-winning environmental activist and writer — he has been named a “River Hero,” an “Eco-Rockstar Impacting the Planet,” and a “Renowned Environmental Leader” by environmental publications. Gary writes, travels, and advocates internationally for the protection of rivers, fighting climate change, and stabilizing human population. "Gary is one of Colorado's most outspoken water watchdogs." -- Colorado Independent, 2018 "Gary is an authentic environmental activist." -- Independence Institute, 2019 "Gary serves alongside Bobby Kennedy Jr. as a serial dam killer." -- Augusta MetroSpirit, 2019 Topics * Protecting rivers around the globe * River protection through Rights for Nature initiatives and legislation * Human population pressures on rivers * Decommissioning Glen Canyon Dam and others like it * One of Gary’s favorite rivers to float in the United States Extra Credit * Visit GaryWockner.com * Visit: Save The Colorado River Campaign

About Greta Greta has an M.A. in geography from the University of Arizona and a Water Policy Certificate from the same institution. She has a B.A. in environmental studies from Prescott College, and a certificate of clinical herbalism from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine. Topics * Thinking about conservation at the watershed level * Old growth grasses * Grazing on public lands * San Pedro river success story Extra Credit Visit Western Watersheds Project Watch: About Greta Greta has an M.A. in geography from the University of Arizona and a Water Policy Certificate from the same institution. She has a B.A. in environmental studies from Prescott College, and a certificate of clinical herbalism from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine. Topics * Thinking about conservation at the watershed level * Old growth grasses * Grazing on public lands * San Pedro river success story Extra Credit Visit Western Watersheds Project Watch:

About Chance Chance Cutrano directs Fish in the Fields and Restore Point Reyes, and oversees the development of The Forces of Nature and sponsored programs at Resource Renewal Institute. An award-winning environmentalist, Chance brings a variety of skills from public, private, and nonprofit sustainability experiences. Prior to RRI, Chance was researching food, water, and energy management policy in Vietnam, Morocco, and Bolivia. Chance holds a Bachelors in political science and philosophy from Saint Xavier University and a Masters of Public Administration in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School. Topics * The gross mismanagement of a National Park * Grazing, oyster farming, dairies and more, all within the National Seashore boundaries * Water pollution and nutrient cycling issues * Cows vs. Thule Elk * What can be done to end grazing and other travesties currently happening at Point Reyes Extra Credit * Visit Resource Renewal Institute to learn more. About Chance Chance Cutrano directs Fish in the Fields and Restore Point Reyes, and oversees the development of The Forces of Nature and sponsored programs at Resource Renewal Institute. An award-winning environmentalist, Chance brings a variety of skills from public, private, and nonprofit sustainability experiences. Prior to RRI, Chance was researching food, water, and energy management policy in Vietnam, Morocco, and Bolivia. Chance holds a Bachelors in political science and philosophy from Saint Xavier University and a Masters of Public Administration in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School. Topics * The gross mismanagement of a National Park * Grazing, oyster farming, dairies and more, all within the National Seashore boundaries * Water pollution and nutrient cycling issues * Cows vs. Thule Elk * What can be done to end grazing and other travesties currently happening at Point Reyes Extra Credit * Visit Resource Renewal Institute to learn more.

About Amy Amy Lewis is Vice President of Policy & Communications for Wild Foundation and works closely with the organization Nature Needs Half. Amy has spent the last 15 years researching the building blocks of collective action. She has brought this knowledge to bear in her own work as an award-winning nonprofit leader and as a scholar of environmental policy. Her research explores the relationship between democratic decision-making and policies that benefit the environment. She delights in uncovering the deep forces that determine a society’s political and ecological future. Amy employs her knowledge and skills at the WILD Foundation, aligning her personal goals with WILD’s mission to activate an international ethic of care for wildlife and wild places. Topics * What is the “Half Earth” movement about? * How do we educate and mobilize an entire planet full of humans to care and then do something toward protecting 50%? * The importance of the BRICS countries * The art and science of good PR, messaging, and organizing * Similarities between Kennedy’s moon shot and protecting 50% of the planet’s land and water habitats for biodiversity * How the solution to the climate crisis and Earth’s 6th mass extinction is to protect and restore half the planet’s wildlands and waterways. Extra Credit Reading: * Ecoregional based approach to protecting half * Using nature as climate stabilization regions Interactive map of ecoregions and level of protection Visit: * Wild Foundation * Nature Needs Half About Amy Amy Lewis is Vice President of Policy & Communications for Wild Foundation and works closely with the organization Nature Needs Half. Amy has spent the last 15 years researching the building blocks of collective action. She has brought this knowledge to bear in her own work as an award-winning nonprofit leader and as a scholar of environmental policy. Her research explores the relationship between democratic decision-making and policies that benefit the environment. She delights in uncovering the deep forces that determine a society’s political and ecological future. Amy employs her knowledge and skills at the WILD Foundation, aligning her personal goals with WILD’s mission to activate an international ethic of care for wildlife and wild places. Topics * What is the “Half Earth” movement about? * How do we educate and mobilize an entire planet full of humans to care and then do something toward protecting 50%? * The importance of the BRICS countries * The art and science of good PR, messaging, and organizing * Similarities between Kennedy’s moon shot and protecting 50% of the planet’s land and water habitats for biodiversity * How the solution to the climate crisis and Earth’s 6th mass extinction is to protect and restore half the planet’s wildlands and waterways. Extra Credit Reading: * Ecoregional based approach to protecting half * Using nature as climate stabilization regions

About Kenneth Brower is an American environmental writer. He has written a number of books about the environment, national parks, and natural places. He authored the series The Earth’s Wild Places, which was published by the Friends of the Earth in the 1970s. His most widely read book, on Yosemite, is in over 1,200 WorldCat libraries. Many of his books have been published by the National Geographic Society and several have been translated into Japanese, German, Spanish, and Hebrew. Ken is the oldest son of the late environmentalist David Brower, founder of several organizations, such as Friends of the Earth and Earth Island Institute, and also served as the first Executive Director of the Sierra Club. By Smithfl – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link Point Reyes is a prominent cape and popular Northern California tourist destination on the Pacific coast. It is located in Marin County approximately 30 miles northwest of San Francisco. Ken Brower grew up an advocate for Point Reyes since his father, as Executive Director of the Sierra Club, was instrumental, in Kennedy signing National Seashore authorizing legislation. Today, Point Reyes is at risk from a threat no one expects to exist in a National Seashore or any National Park. Topics * Grazing in national parks * The power of the ranching industry over people who should know better * Tule Elk * Winning the battle to capture the public’s imagination and support for wilderness (again) * The Sierra Club cup Extra Credit * Read: The Great Giveaway Continues * Read: “Proposed Point Reyes Seashore Plan is a Giveaway to Ranchers * Read: “Point Reyes management plan calls for shooting elk, preserving ranches“ * Visit Restore Point Reyes * Read: Wildness Within: Remembering David Brower BookTV: Kenneth Brower, “The Wildness Within: Remembering David Brower” About Kenneth Brower is an American environmental writer. He has written a number of books about the environment, national parks, and natural places. He authored the series The Earth’s Wild Places, which was published by the Friends of the Earth in the 1970s. His most widely read book, on Yosemite, is in over 1,200 WorldCat libraries. Many of his books have been published by the National Geographic Society and several have been translated into Japanese, German, Spanish, and Hebrew. Ken is the oldest son of the late environmentalist David Brower, founder of several organizations, such as Friends of the Earth and Earth Island Institute, and also served as the first Executive Director of the Sierra Club. By Smithfl – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link Point Reyes is a prominent cape and popular Northern California tourist destination on the Paci...

About Dr. Jan van Boeckel is a Dutch anthropologist, visual artist, art teacher and filmmaker. One of Jan’s areas of interest and concern are the worldviews and environmental philosophies of indigenous peoples. Together with filmmaking group ReRun Productions, he produced a series of documentaries on this subject, as well as films on philosophers such as Jacques Ellul and Arne Naess, who provide a critical analysis of the Western way of life. Principal among these films is “The Call of the Mountain,” (watch below) focused on Naess’ work on the topic of Deep Ecology. In 2013 Jan defended his doctoral thesis At the Heart of Art and Earth: An Exploration of Practices in Arts-Based Environmental Education at Aalto University.  From 2015 until 2018, Jan was Professor in Art Pedagogy and Didactics of Art at the Estonian Academy of Arts in Tallinn. Topics * Exploring the relationship between ecology and philosophy * A new site dedicated to three pioneering nature-focused philosophers * Deep ecology * Ecocentrism * Ecosophy * The role of art in environmental education Extra Credit * Open Air Philosophy – Open Air Philosophy aims to help deepen understanding of the ecological crisis—its drivers and possible solutions—by sharing the work of three pioneering nature-focused philosophers. * Wild Painting – Wildpainting aims to open up your senses and let the landscape express itself through you. ​Jan van Boeckel offers courses in inspiring natural environments all over Europe. * Nature Art Education –  Repository of materials of the research group on arts-based environmental education at Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture * Facebook page: Arts Based Ecological Education * Facebook Community: Arts-based environmental education community Watch “Call of the Mountain” The Deep Ecology Platform 1. The well-being and flourishing of human and nonhuman life on Earth have value in themselves (synonyms: inherent worth, intrinsic value, inherent value). These values are independent of the usefulness of the nonhuman world for human purposes. 2. Richness and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of these values and are also values in themselves. 3. Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital needs. 4. Present human interference with the nonhuman world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening. 5. The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decrease of the human population. The flourishing of nonhuman life requires such a decrease. 6. Policies must therefore be changed. The changes in policies affect basic economic, technological, and ideological structures. The resulting state of affairs will be deeply different from the present. 7. The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating life quality (dwelling in situations of inherent worth) rather than adhering to an increasingly higher standard of living. There will be a profound awareness of the difference between big and great. 8. Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation directly or indirectly to participate in the attempt to implement the necessary changes. —Arne Naess and George Sessions (1984)

About Kirk Kirk Robinson is the founder and executive director of the Western Wildlife Conservancy. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Prior to founding Western Wildlife Conservancy, Kirk earned a Ph.D. in philosophy and taught courses at universities in Montana and Utah for 15 years. His favorite activities are exploring the wildlands of the American West and trying to learn to play fiddle tunes on acoustic guitar. Kirk is also a member of the Rewilding Leadership Council. Topics * Who really pays the most for conservation programs on state lands? (Hint: not hunters and anglers!) * Resourcism vs. ecosystem resilience * Feedlots, Elk, disease, and the answer to healthy herds * The extreme bias of wildlife boards toward hunting, lack of diversity Extra Credit * Read Kirk’s article: “A Philosophical Critique of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation“ * Visit and support: Western Wildlife Conservancy * Listen to Episode 13: Camilla Fox Project Coyote for more background on state & federal mismanagement of wildlife, in particular pertaining to coyotes. About Kirk Kirk Robinson is the founder and executive director of the Western Wildlife Conservancy. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Prior to founding Western Wildlife Conservancy, Kirk earned a Ph.D. in philosophy and taught courses at universities in Montana and Utah for 15 years. His favorite activities are exploring the wildlands of the American West and trying to learn to play fiddle tunes on acoustic guitar. Kirk is also a member of the Rewilding Leadership Council. Topics * Who really pays the most for conservation programs on state lands? (Hint: not hunters and anglers!) * Resourcism vs. ecosystem resilience * Feedlots, Elk, disease, and the answer to healthy herds * The extreme bias of wildlife boards toward hunting, lack of diversity Extra Credit * Read Kirk’s article: “A Philosophical Critique of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation“ * Visit and support: Western Wildlife Conservancy * Listen to Episode 13: Camilla Fox Project Coyote for more background on state & federal mismanagement of wildlife, in particular pertaining to coyotes.

About Michael Michael Kellett has been executive director of RESTORE: The North Woods, since co-founding the organization in 1992. In 1994, he developed the original proposal for a 3.2-million-acre Maine Woods National Park, which laid the groundwork for the 2016 designation of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument by President Obama. He has helped in efforts to safeguard the legacy of Henry David Thoreau, including Walden Woods and the Thoreau birthplace, and to restore the Eastern Wolf, Canada Lynx, and Atlantic Salmon to the Northeast. Michael previously worked for The Wilderness Society, helping to pass Michigan and Maine national forest wilderness bills. He co-authored Massachusetts bill H.897, which would protect all state conservation lands, covering 11% of the state, as parks and reserves off-limits to logging and other industrial development. He has visited more than 250 National Park System areas across the country. Topics * How to increase the National Park System by 3x current size * The appetite Americans have for new National Parks * A new National Parks omnibus bill * National Parks role in stitching together America’s part of the Nature Needs Half / Half Earth movement Extra Credit * Visit and engage: Restore.org * Sign the petition: “Statement of Support for Massachusetts House Bill 897“ * Visit: Save Massachusetts Forests * New National Parks website (Under Construction) * Follow on Twitter * Follow on Facebook Reading: * Room for More: There is no better time to put forward a bold vision of an expanded park system. * New National Parks for the Next Century (National Parks Traveler) * America’s newest National Park: White Sands National Park Notes from Michael on the figures for proposed new national parks The National Park System is 85,099,844.97 acres. RESTORE’s spreadsheet of the top 100 areas totals about 182 million acres of land and a modest amount of offshore waters (mainly in Bristol Bay and Massachusetts Bay). Adding this to the existing 85-million-acre system would raise the total to about 277 million acres, which is more than triple the existing system acreage. Our extended working list so far includes about 500 potential expansion areas covering about 300 million acres. And that does not include many other possibilities, including most major marine areas. So we are confident that we will end up with the potential to increase our park system by a factor of 10. Currently, only about 210 million acres is preserved in national parks or wilderness areas — less than 9 percent of the U.S. land base. If we really intend to make any serious attempt to reach the goal of saving half the planet for biodiversity, we need to increase such protected areas to 1.2 billion acres of land in the U.S. Even to reach the bare minimum of 17 percent in the

About Bruce Anderson retired from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in July 2017. During his four years with the DNR he was Assistant Wildlife Manager and wildlife planner where he was involved wildlife surveys, planning, wildlife damage management, habitat assessments, invasive species management and Interdisciplinary support to timber management. Prior to this, Bruce had a 35 year career with the US Forest Service where he worked in North and South Dakota, Montana, Idaho and most recently on the Superior National Forest in Northern MN. During his Forest Service career he worked in program management positions for invasive species, wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers, trails, rangeland management, wildlife, fire effects and recreation. Bruce also worked at length within five wilderness areas on wilderness related topics including fire effects monitoring, livestock and recreational grazing, wildlife damage management, invasive species control, motorized use management, and wild and scenic rivers. Topics * Effects of mining, timber extraction, invasive species, and development in North America since 1969 * Making an impact on the local level * Collective effect of taking action where you live * How to find $50-$100 billion dollars per year for conservation and restoration work from coast to coast * How “big data” can help make the right management decisions on the ground Extra Credit * Reach out to local groups in your area, pick up a shovel, pull invasive species out of the ground on state and federal land, stay active! * Know what’s been lost in your area in order to understand why taking one more square inch or board foot really does make a difference. About Bruce Anderson retired from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in July 2017. During his four years with the DNR he was Assistant Wildlife Manager and wildlife planner where he was involved wildlife surveys, planning, wildlife damage management, habitat assessments, invasive species management and Interdisciplinary support to timber management. Prior to this, Bruce had a 35 year career with the US Forest Service where he worked in North and South Dakota, Montana, Idaho and most recently on the Superior National Forest in Northern MN. During his Forest Service career he worked in program management positions for invasive species, wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers, trails, rangeland management, wildlife, fire effects and recreation. Bruce also worked at length within five wilderness areas on wilderness related topics including fire effects monitoring, livestock and recreational grazing, wildlife damage management, invasive species control, motorized use management, and wild and scenic rivers. Topics * Effects of mining, timber extraction, invasive species, and development in North America since 1969 * Making an impact on the local level * Collective effect of taking action where you live * How to find $50-$100 billion dollars per year for conservation and restoration work from coast to coast * How “big data” can help make the right management decisions on the ground Extra Credit * Reach out to local groups in your area, pick up a shovel, pull invasive species out of the ground on state and federal land, stay active! * Know what’s been lost in your area in order to understand why taking one more square inch or board foot really does make a difference.

About Kenyon Fields Kenyon Fields is one of the main founders of the Western Landowners Alliance. His background is in conservation biology and landscape scale conservation planning. It is this background that led him to convene the first meetings of what later became the WLA, as he and fellow conservation biologists realized the critical role that landowners can play in keeping the West whole. Western Landowners Alliance brings together science, policy, human needs, to produce a shared vision of private landowners working collectively to conserve the rich natural values of the West while sustaining their businesses and communities. Kenyon worked for many years in Alaska for the U.S. Forest Service, an Alaska Native organization, and as executive director of Sitka Conservation Society. Kenyon helps his wife Mary manage Mountain Island ranch in Utah and Colorado. We start today talking about Mountain Island Ranch, set in a picture-perfect landscape, with much needed visuals! Topics * The role private lands play in providing crucial habitat for threatened and endangered species * Conservation easements: What are they and how do they work? * Conservation ranching * Doing right by the land (and ourselves) regardless of what the future brings. Extra Credit * Check out Kenyon’s photography of the ranch and its many critters! * Visit Western Landowners Alliance * Learn more about some of the members of WLA on the Western Landowners Alliance YouTube channel. About Kenyon Fields Kenyon Fields is one of the main founders of the Western Landowners Alliance. His background is in conservation biology and landscape scale conservation planning. It is this background that led him to convene the first meetings of what later became the WLA, as he and fellow conservation biologists realized the critical role that landowners can play in keeping the West whole. Western Landowners Alliance brings together science, policy, human needs, to produce a shared vision of private landowners working collectively to conserve the rich natural values of the West while sustaining their businesses and communities. Kenyon worked for many years in Alaska for the U.S. Forest Service, an Alaska Native organization, and as executive director of Sitka Conservation Society. Kenyon helps his wife Mary manage Mountain Island ranch in Utah and Colorado. We start today talking about Mountain Island Ranch, set in a picture-perfect landscape, with much needed visuals! Topics * The role private lands play in providing crucial habitat for threatened and endangered species * Conservation easements: What are they and how do they work? * Conservation ranching * Doing right by the land (and ourselves) regardless of what the future brings. Extra Credit * Check out Kenyon’s photography of the ranch and its many critters! * Visit Western Landowners Alliance * Learn more about some of the members of WLA on the Western Landowners Alliance YouTube channel.

About Jason Jason Mark is the editor of Sierra and the author of Satellites in the High Country: Searching for the Wild in the Age of Man. Jason recently returned from Patagonia to report on the official transfer of Tompkins Conservation lands to the Chilean government to create a combined 9 million acres of fully protected national parks. His recent article in Sierra Magazine lays out what it was like to witness the biggest wildlands philanthropy gift in history in sheer acreage. I started by asking Jason to give a bit of background on his work before we dove into Patagonia, Tompkins Conservation, biodiversity, art, and even space colonization. Extra Credit * Visit Sierra Magazine * Watch: Rewilding Patagonia About Jason Jason Mark is the editor of Sierra and the author of Satellites in the High Country: Searching for the Wild in the Age of Man. Jason recently returned from Patagonia to report on the official transfer of Tompkins Conservation lands to the Chilean government to create a combined 9 million acres of fully protected national parks. His recent article in Sierra Magazine lays out what it was like to witness the biggest wildlands philanthropy gift in history in sheer acreage. I started by asking Jason to give a bit of background on his work before we dove into Patagonia, Tompkins Conservation, biodiversity, art, and even space colonization. Extra Credit * Visit Sierra Magazine * Watch: Rewilding Patagonia

About Andrew Thoms Andrew grew up in rural Upstate New York. After studying Environmental Sciences, he worked for 10 years in Latin America as an environmental specialist in international development projects. Most of his projects focused on the interface between the sustainable use of natural resources and the conservation of tropical biodiversity. One of his favorite jobs was developing and integrating new techniques for cultivating coffee in an environmentally sustainable way on a Guatemalan Coffee farm that he managed. This explains a lot about his approach to working with the forest service, locals, and tribes in and around the Tongass. Today I spoke with Andrew about the threats and challenges facing Tongass National Forest and how his organization, Sitka Conservation Society, is helping. Topics * Just how BIG is the Tongass National Forest? * It’s not all about trees. This national forest has a lot going on. * Salmon: big business, big restoration, in need of protection. * Indigenous people fighting on the front lines, and what they’re up against. * What you can do to support the Tongass (A lot, actually!) Extra Credit * Visit Sitka Conservation Society * TAKE ACTION! Tongass National Forest Alert About Andrew Thoms Andrew grew up in rural Upstate New York. After studying Environmental Sciences, he worked for 10 years in Latin America as an environmental specialist in international development projects. Most of his projects focused on the interface between the sustainable use of natural resources and the conservation of tropical biodiversity. One of his favorite jobs was developing and integrating new techniques for cultivating coffee in an environmentally sustainable way on a Guatemalan Coffee farm that he managed. This explains a lot about his approach to working with the forest service, locals, and tribes in and around the Tongass. Today I spoke with Andrew about the threats and challenges facing Tongass National Forest and how his organization, Sitka Conservation Society, is helping. Topics * Just how BIG is the Tongass National Forest? * It’s not all about trees. This national forest has a lot going on. * Salmon: big business, big restoration, in need of protection. * Indigenous people fighting on the front lines, and what they’re up against. * What you can do to support the Tongass (A lot, actually!) Extra Credit * Visit Sitka Conservation Society * TAKE ACTION! Tongass National Forest Alert